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GARDENERGARDENERThe Off ic ia l Publ icat ion of The Garden Club of South Carol ina , Inc .

IN THIS ISSUE:• GCSC 83rd Convention• GCSC District Meetings• 2013 Youth Symposium

G C S C | S U M M E R I S S U E 2 0 1 3 | V O L . 9 1 | I S S U E 8

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The South CarolinaThe South Carolina

The South Carolina Gardener | Summer 20132

Dear Garden Club Friends,

Marcel Proust one said, “Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” How fitting to make that statement at the finale of this term of office, which has been filled with opportunities for service, philanthropy and joy. My sincere appreciation is extended to all of you who have contributed to the successful experience we have enjoyed these past two years. The members of the GCSC Board of Directors deserve our heartfelt thanks for their service and leadership. There are those chairmen, who are highly visible and very familiar to all as they perform their duties, but there are also those who quietly and efficiently complete their tasks behind the scenes; both are integral to the achievements realized during this administration. The GCSC officers are dedicated to their respective responsibilities and have served this organization well, and your District Directors ALL have exhibited creative leadership as they serve as liaisons between their districts and the GCSC administration.

Particular acknowledgement must go to the garden clubs and councils that comprise the working body of The Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc. You are our public face, you Initiate your good works in your communities and around the state, you Collaborate with other organizations to reach your goals, and I do hope you take time to Celebrate your accomplishments. A complex organization such as ours is only as successful as its grass roots base, and our “roots” are strong and substantial.

If there is one accomplishment of this administration to highlight here, it must be the cooperative effort that led to a record amount of scholarship money presented to a number of qualified applicants at our recent GCSC Convention. By virtue of the foresight of The GCSC Board of Directors, investment income has increased to the point that our two endowed scholarship funds accrued sufficient interest to award five $2000 Hessie Morrah Scholarships and seven $500 Babs Barnette Environmental Scholarships. In addition, as a result of generous donations from the members of each district, six $1000 District Scholarships were awarded. Thanks to the income from President’s Projects and from the generosity of former GCSC President Betsy Steele, two additional $1000 President’s Scholarships were also presented. What a contrast to the $2500 awarded in 2012!

It is time for me to express my thanks to all of you for the privilege and opportunity it has been to serve as the fortieth President of The Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc. And words fail me. It has been a learning experience, certainly, but what an uplifting one as well. My eyes have been opened to the Force for Good you all exemplify, and for that I am truly grateful.

To quote Albert Schweitzer, “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”

Thank you for rekindling the flame within me.

All my best,

Maida

From the President

The South Carolina Gardener | Summer 2013 3

2013

CONTENTSSUMMER 2013 | VOLUME 91 | ISSUE 8

On the Cover2 From the President4 GCSC Convention

6 District Meetings

13 Club Reports

19 Roots, Shoots and Hoots

20 Floral Designs

23 NGC Convention

24 Chaplain’s Corner

26 Youth Symposium

27 Events

This is the issue we bid farewell

to our NGC President, Shirley

Nicolai, and our GCSC President

Maida Dantzler. Both of these

ladies served with love, grace,

and dignity. Each President was

truly interested in each and every

member who had a suggestion,

complaint or compliment. They

kept “garden clubbing” moving in

the right direction.

Thank you, to both ladies, for an

exceptional term as President.


GARDENER REPORT FOR

The GCSC 83rd Annual Convention The GCSC 83rd Annual Convention was held April 25-27, 2013 at the beautiful Florence Civic

Center, Florence. The theme “Gather in the Garden” was portrayed throughout the convention

with floral sign posts, banners, lots of potted garden plants, colorful hats decorated with large

flowers a la Paula Bowen (the hat lady) and showy centerpieces by Sammy Martin and her crew.

We were inspired and regaled by our distinguished speakers, NGC President Shirley Nicolai

and southern author, gardener, floral and interior designer, cook and garden-to-table lifestyle

expert, James Farmer. Many wonderful GCSC and SAR awards were presented throughout the

2-day Convention, and it was a real treat to meet the Scholarship winners and their families.

Maida is to be commended for the scope and amount of scholarships awarded this term; the

winners were proud and honored to be a part of the Garden Club of South Carolina, an honor

they will not soon forget, I am sure!

The tour of Moore Botanical Gardens was a lot of fun and we saw a lot of new projects, such as

a roof top garden and a 20 foot wall of potted plants! The workshops with Mike Dawson from

Francis Beidler Forest and Donna Goodman’s “Wildflowers of the Pee Dee’ impressed everyone.

STATE CONVENTIONGCSC

L to R Paula Bowen, Betty Gourdin, Juanita Motley, Norma Miller, Margaret Graham, Jackie Palmer, Co-Director, Yvonne Morris


I sincerely thank the seven Districts and their

Directors! You all provided fantastic baskets

for the Silent Auction, and they were a great

success with lots of fun bidding. I know you

all got to mingle in the vendors’ room and

make some great purchases.

NGC President Shirley Nicolai installed

the 2013-2015 slate of officers with a very

entertaining comparison of the position to

animals! I was an owl! Of course this message

would not be complete without my sincere

and everlasting thanks to Paula Bowen and

the East Sandhills District! The convention

represents the culmination of months of hard

work, and behind the success of any great

event are great people who do uncommon

works uncommonly well. Their united and

organized approach was first-rate and assured

a wonderful time for all. I hope everyone

enjoyed the fellowship of each other once

again as we “celebrated” the 83rd GCSC

Convention!

Donna DonnellyGCSC 3rd VP, Convention Chairman

NGC Pres. Shirley Nicolai and Trish Bender

Diana and “hubby” Haimerl, Logo Sales


DISTRICT MEETINGSMARION COUNCIL OF GARDEN CLUBSThe Marion Council of Garden Clubs presented an absolutely beautiful meeting with two wonderfully decorated venues. from the registration to the final gavel, over135 guests were treated to fine food, lovely designs (From designers in clubs throughout the district), elegant table decorations, gifted speakers, a lively horticulture presentation (by Carl Claytor-Loris and Sandy Levy -Marion) and even door prizes for everyone. The awards presentation by Diana Haimerl was exciting as many more clubs had submitted applications this year.

A special thank you to all district chairmen for their involvement and reports which are available on the district website. And also to Diana Haimerl, District Co-Director, for being a constant source of knowledge, encouragement and just plain fun.

From “Almost” Flower Shows, to Chili Sales, Daffodil plantings and Almanac Parties, to officer installations, Holiday Parties, and Arbor Day Plantings and all the club and council meetings. I thank you for allowing me to be a Coastal District Director.

Door Arrangement at District Meeting Design by Donna Strattman of Yaupon Garden Club

JEANETTE PRITCHARDGardener of the Year - Coastal District


DISTRICT MEETINGSEAST LOW COUNTRY 2013 DISTRICT MEETINGEast Low Country held its District Meet March 21, in Mount Pleasant at beautiful

Alhambra Hall overlooking Charleston Harbor with 132 in attendance. The theme was

“ Just Fluttering to Make a Difference!”

Our GCSC Web Mistress, Margaret Graham presented an informative and well attended

Work Shop on “Maneuvering within the Web.” Our special guest, GCSC President

Maida Dantzler, gave us an update on happenings in GCSC, Inc. Ellen Straub, PACE

Project Chairman and Trish Bender, Council of Garden Clubs of Greater Charleston

President, presented a video, created by Trish, of the PACE Project, a sensory garden

being planted for severely handicapped children at Patterson Academy. We were

pleased to have our GCSC President Elect, Judith Dill with us to report on other GCSC

projects.

After the business meeting conducted by Dir. Director, Betty Gourdin, our Co-Director

and Awards Chairman, Libby Metzler, presented the many awards with the aid of Betty

and Maida.

Terry Ritchen, Design Chairman introduced Trish Bender, who presented a PowerPoint

presentation on “Botanical Jewelry and Corsages.” Everyone was fascinated with this.

During the delicious luncheon, Kathy Woolsey, our Horticulture Chairman, did a short,

informative program, highlighting succulents. Kathy is Curator at Cypress Gardens, has

a vast knowledge of horticulture and is always willing to share that knowledge with

anyone.

We were blessed to have our GCSC Chaplain, Mildred Parker give the Invocation and

Blessing of our lunch.

Meeting Chairman, Nancy Wood and her wonderful committee created a beautiful

“spring garden” with butterflies in abundance in some form or fashion. The entire

meeting, from the morning “Coffee”, with its great food, to the delicious luncheon,

the workshop, the programs, the decorations, the door prizes, was a huge success and

appreciated by all in attendance.


DISTRICT MEETINGSEAST PIEDMONT DISTRICT The East Piedmont District Spring Meeting was held on March 9, 2013, in Gaffney, at Southside Baptist Church. Gaffney Garden Club, Good Neighbors Garden Club of Union and In-Depth Study Club of Spartanburg were hosts for the “Fluttering into Spring” themed meeting chaired by Marshall Goforth.A “Meet and Greet” social was hosted prior to the 10:00 a.m. event by Good Neighbors Garden Club. Attendees met and mingled with honored guest, GCSC President Maida Dantzler, as well as GCSC President Elect Judith Dill, EPD Incoming District Director Donna Hummelman, and Co-Director Helen Goforth.President Maida Dantzler recapped the many successful programs, projects and new gardening opportunities that were completed during her term of office. She thanked the EPD club and council members for their enthusiastic involvement in her theme to “Initiate, Collaborate, and Celebrate”.Karen Prewitt introduced a video presentation of a “Garden Therapy/Good to Grow” project for special needs youth at Pattison Academy in Charleston.An anxiously awaited awards program was presented by Donna Hummelman and Helen Goforth prior to the luncheon break, and attendees were treated during lunch to a “Flutters of Spring” design program, with “butterfly styled” designs by Becky Crow and commentary by Master Flower Show Judge Marsha Alexander.It was a beautifully organized event, and garden club members left the meeting with bags full of shopping goodies, a Celebration tomato plant, new floral design ideas, and renewed vigor for an upcoming 2013-2015 EPD year.

My thanks to all for a great term,Jackie PalmerEPD Director, 2011-2013

GCSC Pres. Maida Dantzler and Deanna Hungerford, Pres. Lancaster GC

Members enjoying the meeting


EAST SANDHILLS DISTRICT The East Sandhills District Meeting was held on March 12, 2013 at the Alice Boyle Garden Center, and hosted by The Council of Garden Clubs of Sumter. Karen Mouradjian was the District Meeting Chairman and created a real “Welcome to Spring”! GCSC President, Maida Dantzler delivered her message and Trish Bender provided a program on the Garden Therapy: Good to Grow Garden at Pattison Academy. Awards were given, business was completed, reports given, and a delicious meal was enjoyed. Donna Donnelly, GCSC 3rd Vice-President provided a floral design program and Bobbie Kelley, President of the Spring Beauty Garden Club, extended an invitation to the 2014 ESD meeting in Hartsville. Vendors provided a variety of items and a wonderful time was had by all! Following adjournment, a tour of Swan Lake Iris Gardens was enjoyed by many. Congratulations to all the members of The Council of Garden Clubs of Sumter!

Paula Bowen, District Director 2011-1013, East Sandhills District

Photos by Kathy Barrett

Trish Bender giving program

Sunflower GC of Bennettsville receive awards Donna Donnelly doing design


DISTRICT MEETINGSTHE WEST LOW COUNTRY DISTRICT SPRING MEETING“Springtime on the Savannah River” • March 5, 2013The West Low Country District Spring Meeting was held on a beautiful day in North Augusta, South Carolina in the North Augusta Community Center. Thank you to our hostesses, The North Augusta Council of Garden Clubs and all their members who worked diligently to provide us with an amazingly well run meeting, with cuisine provided by Bayou Spice Ltd. to rival none. A special thanks to Karen Oliver.

The hosting clubs were: Carolina Hills Garden Club, Palmetto Garden Club, Terrace Garden Club. Pine Needle Garden Club and Beech Island Garden Club. And thank you to Trish Manuel and Joanne Tyler for the amazing selection of venders, I know many of our members went home with wonderful purchases, of plants, gifts, jams and jellies and many other goodies. Included in our vender selection was Steven Arthur who presented a very informative talk on Orchids.

During the coffee hour, Maida, our State President was able to meander informally among the members meeting, greeting and answering many questions.

A delicious Grits breakfast bar was provided for us by the members of Beech Island/Pine Needles Garden Club.

The meeting was led by Norma Miller, West Low Country District Director and a glance out the window let you know “Springtime on the Savannah River” was certainly in great evidence.

Following the call to order, and the invocation, the presentation of colors by the North Augusta ROTC, of North Augusta High School and the pledge of Allegiance were presented. We were led in singing “America the Beautiful by Karen Oliver and Melissa Loose on the piano.

We were delighted to have our First Lady of the Garden Club of South Carolina Maida Dantzler as well as President Elect Judith Dill, 3rd vice President Donna Donnelly, Recording Secretary Karen Prewitt and 141 participants and four guests join us for our meeting Karen Prewitt treated us to the presentation of an enlightening video depicting Pattison Academy of Charleston and their “Good to Grow” program, Pattison Academy helps severely handicapped children, improving their quality of life.

Continued on page 17


WEST PIEDMONT DISTRICT MEETINGThe West Piedmont District of the Garden Club of South Carolina, on March 7, 2013, enjoyed a

very successful spring meeting at First Presbyterian Church in Greer. Because of illness, District

Director, Betty Thacker could not be in attendance. However, her job was very capably filled by

Yvonne Morris, District Co-Director. Attendance was excellent, and a most delicious lunch was

served by the ladies of the Greer Council. Shirley Carlson and Debbie Davis were chairwomen

for the event. They did a fabulous job. Shirley is very talented in computer design techniques

and made beautiful name tags and programs. The dining tables were also lovely with their fresh

spring designs.

The West Piedmont District is a large and very active part of the Garden Club of South Carolina

and helps provide leaders for the state organization whenever possible. When Dr. Yvonne Morris,

District Co-Director of the West Piedmont District, was recognized for her exception leadership

abilities, she was asked to consider taking on the position of First Vice President of the Garden

Club of South Carolina. This of course meant she could not take on the role of District Director

for West Piedmont. Happily for us, the nominating committee has secured Mary Alice Hall

as Co-Director and the nominating committee secured Betty Thacker to continue as District

Director.

The West Piedmont District was delighted to have many state officers including President Maida

Dantzler join us for our meeting. We thank President Maida and all her hard working officers for

the leadership they have given us over the past two years.

We also want to thank the Garden Club of Charleston for the very informative program they

presented.

We were very pleased with our meeting and appreciative to all who worked so hard to make it

a success.

Betty W. Thacker, WPD DirectorDistrict Director of the West Piedmont District

REPORTSGCSC Club


WEST SANDHILLS DISTRICT MEETING The West Sandhills District Meeting, “Town and Country Garden Party,” was held in St. Matthews on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. It was held in the Tri-County Electric cooperative Offices’. Host clubs were Blythewood, Rose, St. Matthews, and Wisteria Garden Clubs.

Welcomes were given by Chad T. Lowder of Tri-County Electric Cooperative and Susie Boykin, President, Garden Club Council of St. Matthews.

In the absence of our State President, Maida Dantzler, our First Vice President, Judith Dill gave her remarks. Karen Prewitt presented a “Garden Therapy/Good to Grow” program. Guest speaker, Daryl Cate, of Garden Gate Florist, Orangeburg, was entertaining and original in design as he spoke and his assistant constructed a most unusual design with tea cups. The design was definitely in keeping with the theme of garden party.

After our delicious lunch, Co-Director, Karen McConnell, presented the awards. St. Matthews was the club to receive the most awards. Well done St. Matthews! It is hoped that more clubs will apply for awards in the future.

The highlight of the garden party had to be the beautiful roses all around us. Beautiful pitcher centerpieces were on all the tables. Two of the host clubs had done all the centerpieces using their own spectacular pitchers. Also, the desserts must not go unmentioned. They were lovingly made by club members, many different kinds, and all I heard was “delicious,” “wonderful,” and “great.” This had to be spring’s best garden party of the year!!

One final note is that the Juanita Motley, District Director, announced that she would be presenting an additional check of $600 for scholarships to President Maida at the state meeting in Florence. The total amount of scholarship funds raised by West Sandhills District was $1600.

REPORTSGCSC Club


MAGNOLIA GARDEN CLUB OF JOHNS ISLAND On May 9th at the Seabrook Club, the ladies of Magnolia Garden Club of Johns Island enjoyed their annual luncheon and installation of officers. This year was particularly special, as we celebrated our Club’s 60th Anniversary as well.

In 1953, several island ladies worked together to establish Magnolia Garden Club of Johns Island, SC - to encourage gardening among amateurs; to protect and promote the growth of our wild trees, flowers and birds; to encourage civic beautification programs; and to serve our community through gardening. The Club undertakes a number of projects each year, which over the years have included maintaining the Angel Oak tree, preserving Butcher Oak on the north end of the island as a historic site, tree planting on Maybank Highway, and beautification of both the “old” post office as well as the current post office. We consistently win district, state and community awards, most recently on May 17th, the Community Pride “Community Improvement Award” (http://communityprideinc.com/awards.htm) for our recent efforts at the post office. Community involvement includes a wide range of activities including regular monthly meetings. Our members are residents of Johns Island and the surrounding sea islands of James, Kiawah, Seabrook and Wadmalaw. We meet on the second Thursday of each month, September to June. For more information or to express interest in joining, visit http://magnoliagc.org/ .

We celebrated our 80th Anniversary in 2002 with a Proclamation from the City of Charleston and Mayor Joseph P. Riley. In 2005 we established a Junior Garden Club. We celebrated our 85 Anniversary in 2007,

And we were still caring for The Gateway Walk, The Joseph Manigault House garden, The Heyward-Washington, The Museum Court Yard Garden, The Healing Garden at MUSC, The Association for the Blind; and we added the historic Confederate Garden to our list of projects.

What stands out in my mind is the fact that aside from all the projects that our club does--like sponsoring children to Camp Wildwood for over fifty years, flower shows, our Annual House & Garden Tours, community outreach, like Habitat for Humanity and Anson House; we have continued to care for the same gardens since we founded the club. The gardens have grown and changed over the years, but we still give them our constant love and care. It is privilege to work side by side in the gardens with ladies of all ages and it is heartening that each year we have new members that begin

REPORTS REPORTSGCSC Club

Continued on page 17


REPORTSGCSC Club

BLACKVILLE GARDEN CLUB CELEBRATES75TH DIAMOND ANNIVERSARYThe Blackville Garden Club was organized April 12, 1938 and Federated in the Garden Club of South Carolina and with National Garden Clubs, Inc. in the same year. On April 11, 2013 the Blackville Club celebrated the 75th anniversary by planting the South Carolina State Tree, the Palmetto on the front grounds of the Blackville Community Center. The planting of the Palmetto was in memory and honor of those members and officers who kept the Club active over the past 75 years. After the dedication of the tree, butterflies were released in memory of those members who are deceased and in honor of those still living. The group moved inside for the program and refreshments. Mayor Mike Beasley welcomed members and guest. Guest included family members of former Club presidents, community leaders, winners of the ‘ Yard of the Month’ project, and representatives from other garden clubs. West Low Country Director Norma Miller and State Board Member Mary Rivers made comments from the Garden Club of South Carolina. State Representative Lonnie Hosey brought greetings.

Thirty-three ladies have served as president. Six of the nine living Presidents attended the event (pictured below Hazel Cook, Jackie Hughes, Lill Stoltzfus, Betsy Croft, Myrtle Quattlebaum, and Libby Still). Each president received a certificate of appreciation along with Jennie Cromer who has served as club treasurer for over thirty years.

Refreshments were prepared and served by club members. Mary Rivers designed the floral arrangement of spring flowers for the food table. The silver urn used for the center arrangement was a gift presented to the Blackville Garden Club on the 50th anniversary. The urn was given in memory by the children of Mrs. Ronald C. Gyles who served as the Club’s first president.

The Blackville Garden Club theme is “ Service to its Members and Community”.


REPORTSIVY GARDEN CLUB CELEBRATE 40 YEARSThe Ivy Garden Club of Williston, S.C. celebrated 40 years of gardening and service to the community with a birthday party on May 20, 2013. The first formal meeting of the club was held in January, 1973 and the club was federated in 1974. The room was decorated with posters from the 70’s. Members brought photos of themselves from the 70’s and posted them on a ‘The Way We Were’ board. President Peg Sutherland welcomed members and Secretary Patty Shipes shared the history which highlighted some of the accomplishments of the club including the creation of a downtown parkway which is still maintained by the Ivy Garden Club today. All members were honored with bookmarks stating their years in membership. Two charter members, Florence Carr and Mary Rivers were honored and given floral baskets for their 40 years of membership and service. All past officers were given corsages. Members played a scrapbook game, finding the answers to questions in the scrapbooks collected by the club from 1973 to 2013. Members enjoyed a beautiful birthday cake prepared by member, Diane Wilson, then exchanged some great garden birthday presents.


Dixie Plantation as visited by LDCCJohn Henry Dick, renowned ornithologist and painter of birds, inherited the property from his mother in 1941 and made it his year-round home. (His mother was first married to John Jacob Astor, IV, who drown on the Titanic’s fateful voyage. After his death, she married William K. Dick.) In 1947, John Henry Dick constructed his home and art studio along the Stono River.

John Henry Dick placed a conservation easement with the Lowcountry Open Land Trust on the entire property. Upon John Henry Dick’s death in 1995, he bequeathed Dixie Plantation to the College of Charleston Foundation for the educational use of the College of Charleston. Currently, many classes both undergraduate and graduate level are conducted on the property, ranging from astronomy, to vertebrate zoology, to art, and archaeology. Additionally, several research studies are underway by faculty and students, and planning has been initiated to build an environmentally sensitive academic research campus on the property.

The College of Charleston fully embraces the critical importance and promise of conservation of South Carolina’s Lowcountry and is committed to upholding this legally binding protection and preserving this remarkable piece of land and history.

REPORTSGCSC Club


REPORTS REPORTSGCSC Committee

Next followed, the bestowal of District, Yearbook, and President’s Report awards. Congratulations to all the winners!!

Committee reports were received, followed by the Blessing by Mildred Parker. A very delicious luncheon buffet was provided by Bayou Spice Ltd. owned and operated by our very own co-director, Karen Oliver (about to be the new West Low Country District Director with Sandy Duerkson as your co-director). After dessert our guest speaker Jenks Farmer owner of “Lushlife Lilies” gave a very informative presentation, focusing on his amazing career as a landscape designer and on Crinum Lilies. Jenks is now currently designing for the new Florence Museum of Art, and will soon be publishing a new book.

Following general announcements including the raffle winners, Cynthia Curnes President Elect of The Beaufort Council of Garden Clubs invited all the members to the 2014 District meeting to be held in the Beaufort area.

An enormous amount of door prizes were awarded at the end of the meeting.

Thank you to everyone for attending the meeting and a special thanks to Sue Estes and Trish Timmerman co-chairs, for all their time and expertise in making this meeting so successful.

After the adjournment a number of members were treated to a tour of Blue Clay Farms. The farm named for the blue clay so unique to the soil near the Savannah River, is located in Hammonds Ferry, North Augusta. It is North Augusta’s premier river front development. Blue Clay Farms offers a semi-classical French garden with fresh herbs and beautiful vegetables and ornamental flowers all of which are used in the Manual’s Bread Café`. It has been an honor to serve as your district director for 2011-2013 and I again thank you for attending the spring district meeting.

Most sincerely,Norma MillerWest Low Country District Director 2011-2013

THE WEST LOW COUNTRY DISTRICT SPRING MEETINGContinued from page 10

the cycle all over again. Some of the members that I knew and loved are gone now, but their imprint on the gardens remain. It is truly and honor and privilege to be a member of The Garden Club of Charleston.

We celebrated our 90th Anniversary at our Annual Luncheon at the Carolina Yacht Club on February 5, 2013. The flowers done by VP Jane Pearman and Gretchen Cuddy said, “Spring is Here!” In the beautiful Bastion Ballroom each table was a breath of spring with Forsythia, Bells of Ireland, and camellias. Jane does nothing small, the flowers in the entrance hall were fabulous!

Past President Jean Ferrara chaired the 90th Anniversary Committee, and our own Mary Hopkins was speaker. A special guest pianist was 10 year old Caleb Borick. It was one of those days to remember, our ladies dressed in their spring clothes, beautiful flowers and a delicious luncheon where we saw friends old and new. A keepsake was The History of the Garden Club of Charleston, Celebrating 90 Years.

MAGNOLIA GARDEN CLUB OF JOHNS ISLANDContinued from page 13


REPORTSGCSC Committee

Grassroots Green | Karen PrewittLEFT COAST RAMBLINGSLittle did I realize when I wrote last month’s article, that our editor Pat Troutman would want me to do one more article for The Gardener on environmental issues. Since I had nothing prepared for this article, I thought that I would share with you some of the things I learned and observations I made from my trip to the National Garden Club Conference in Seattle May 24-26. To back up a little and give you an overview, I’ll say that my husband had a conference in Las Vegas in early May, so we decided to connect our two conferences with a little vacation. We flew to Las Vegas for my husband’s convention, then rented a car and drove west through Death Valley and then up California’s Coastal Highway #1, which ultimately became Highway #101 in Oregon and Washington state. From the airplane window as we approached Las Vegas, I saw large circles of green below in the khaki-colored desert. It was evident that some sort of agriculture was being carried out within the large green circles because some were bright green, others were segmented in various shades of green, but all were in marked contrast to the seemingly endless surrounding sea of khaki. These large expanses of khaki became more meaningful as we left the excesses of Las Vegas a few days later and drove through Death Valley. In the one hundred plus miles that it took to drive across Death Valley, we only encountered three other cars. I didn’t see a single building, tree, shrub, creek, bird, or living creature of any kind, not even a scorpion. I confess that the trip across the desert was a little unnerving for me because the landscape was so alien and uninhabited. It was also a poignant reminder of what our world could become without the precious gift of water. As we continued westward, near Bakersfield California, we passed in close succession, a series of oil drilling fields and a virtual forest of electrical power towers that stretched for miles and looked like something from a Sci-fi movie. I was reminded of how our landscape has changed in order to support the lifestyles to which we have become accustomed. Our on-going needs for energy consumption were readily apparent.The pundits have sometimes called California the land of fruits and nuts, but this is actually an accurate description. Near Bakersfield, are miles and miles of farms producing cherries, strawberries, plums, grapes and almonds. Lettuce and cabbage is also grown hydroponically. After tasting luscious freshly picked cherries from a roadside stand, I was reminded of the amount of water it takes to sustain all the farms that grow the foods we take for granted when we shop in our local grocery stores.

In San Francisco I was pleased to discover that you must bring your own carry-all when making a purchase. The city placed a strict ban on plastic bags several years ago and if you don’t have a bag of your own, you must purchase a recyclable one from the merchant. Clearly, this plastic bag ban has not adversely impacted the economy! In a shopping mall café area I discovered different stainless steel waste bins. One was marked, ‘Recyclables’, another marked ‘Compost’ and yet another marked ‘Landfill’. I was impressed with the Left Coast genius for making people aware of their choices and I noted that the landfill bin was empty!Although I had previously traveled California’s southern coastline, referred to as Big Sur, I had never traveled the coastline north of San Francisco. I was very impressed with the number of state owned parks in northern California and Oregon that provided public access to a huge portion of the Pacific coastline. Beach access was only hindered in places by the vertical drop. I was even more impressed by the spotlessly clean roadsides and pristine beaches. I didn’t see a single plastic bag, bottle, or piece of trash in two thousand miles of travel. This says a great deal for these states’ litter programs. I was also pleased to observe that the ancient Monterrey cypresses and eucalyptus trees of California and the towering redwoods of Oregon often sat within eighteen inches of the edge of the asphalt highway, with no pull outs, yet no one clamored to have these trees cut down because they were a nuisance to highway safety. These gentle arboreal giants were cherished for their beauty. The effect of man upon the landscape was best felt in the state of Washington where the forest industry has even more impact on the economy than Boeing. We passed mile after mile of ‘harvested’ acres of trees. That is a euphonious term for a ruined landscape. With an average rainfall of 110 inches a year, newly planted trees will ultimately grow – but it will still take longer than the balance of my lifetime to see mature trees in these areas. Again, I was able to rethink my own ecological footprint and how I could use less. Travel is always an eye-opening opportunity to see how others live their lives. There is always much to be learned from exchanging ideas. I hope my articles on environmental education for the last four years have done just that – educated you about alternatives. I’ll continue my articles in the NGC South Atlantic Region newsletter Key Notes, but I’ll still be available to you and your clubs for questions and programs.I’ll leave you with my new mantra: Preserve, Protect, Conserve and Re-direct. Happy trails!


Roots, Shoots and Hoots | Helen Goforth, HistorianWhat happens at the convention stays at the convention! No, it goes home with us! And we laugh…recalling the hilarious tale about two “groupies” singing along with a country music star!

And we smile, remembering conversations with friends, and thankful for hugs galore from friends we see once a year, but wish it were more often. And we weep, remembering a dear friend to whom we lit a candle.

Naturally, the “behind the scene” activities are among the most memorable and fun. We have enjoyed 83 GCSC Conventions, and themes through the years describe our past. But to fully understand and appreciate the journey to the convention for the host District, you would have to wish that walls could talk! There is where we meet the “hoots!”

The first convention I attended was, also, the first convention for which I volunteered to “work.” “Work” meant “play” when the “play room” was the convention flower room. I learned quickly that GCSC takes its “work” seriously when we were “shushed” by one of the VPs for having so much fun that we interrupted the luncheon across the hall. (Who knew the banquet room was there? And, why didn’t the VP know we would just laugh that much harder?) We worked together, had a blast, and the convention was a success!

Topiaries of fresh flowers towered over banquet tables dressed for “Gardening Together…Southern Style!” Favors were blue and white porcelain animal-shaped bowls with lids. Placing each one carefully—under watchful eyes, we thought, “Don’t drop one now!”

The table designs were photographed for future promotional advertising by the Marriott Corporation officials, who were delighted with such a beautiful sight.

As delegates left the beautifully decorated ballroom, they never knew that “murder” was occurring just outside the banquet hall. A lovely scene it had been, too. There, looking as if it had sprouted legs and walked to the convention, was a Carolina Fence Garden. As a President’s Project, they were being planted on school grounds by clubs. Because of its popularity and educational value, the President’s Project continued with plans to plant fence gardens at all South Carolina Welcome Centers on our interstates.

Brightly colored Jessamine was in bloom. A bird house was mounted on an old split rail fence riddled with holes. A granite rock and birdbath anchored the lovely scene. It was just about the time that someone remarked how real the bumble bee looked resting on the rock. As if on cue, the bee began to crawl across the rock! Then, it was joined by a host of bees crawling from holes in the old split-rail fence!

Our National President was enjoying the story about the Carolina Fence Gardens when the “swat team” sprang into action. Fearful that active bees would/could soon be swarming, we couldn’t allow the bees to take flight around the massive foyer of the hotel. “Country girl” and National President, Lois Shuster, laughed and joined in the fun and got two bees with one step!

Memories can fade—or be embellished—but you must agree, there is never a dull moment in garden clubbing…or conventions!


Synegistic DesignMartha LeHane

Palmetto Design Study Club

Stretch Design Ellen Straub

Palmetto Design Study Club

FLORAL DESIGNGCSC Flower Shows


Sharri BardsleyPalmetto Design Study Club

Trish BenderPalmetto Design Study Club


HORTICULTUREJerry W. Weise

The Horticulture PathJERRY W. WEISE | HORTICULTURE CHAIRMAN

“June is busting out all over!” So go the lyrics from a song in the musical Carousel. After a cold,

wet and windy spring warmer days have caused an explosion of growth and flowers across South

Carolina. This has been especially notable in the rapid growth of vines and sprawling shrubs,

many introduced from Asia. Whether introduced on purpose like kudzu or hidden hitchhikers

sneaking under the radar, the following have become invasive problem plants. If possible, remove

these plants from your property and replace them with better behaved species. Even invasive

plants have some desirable characteristics. Following is a small portion of a list from the US

National Arboretum. For more information visit www.usna.usda.gov/ and on the site map click

on Gardening tips and ideas and then click on Native Plant Alternatives to Exotic Invasive.

PROBLEM PLANTDESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS

GREAT ALTERNATIVES

Japanese Wisteria Showy flowers, fragrance

American wisteria, Wisteria frutescens, Woodland phlox, Phlox divaricatus, Sweet azalea, Rhodendron canescens, Coast azalea, R. atlanticum

Japanese Honeysuckle Fragrant flowers

Trumpet honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, Carolina jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens, Sweetbay magnolia, Magnolia virginianaPassionflower, Passiflora incarnate

Asian bittersweet Showy fruitsAmerican bittersweet, Celastrus scandens, Virginia rose, Rosa virginiana

Purple LoosestrifeLong bloom seasonWet tolerant

Swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnataSweet pepperbush, Clethra alnifoliaPurple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea


84th ANNUAL NGC CONVENTION“Rain Shine”

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON | MAY 24-26, 2013

Eleven members of The Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc. joined the nearly-700 delegates who attended the 84th Annual Convention of National Garden Clubs, Inc. in Seattle, Washington, from May 24-26, 2013. “Rain Shine” was the fitting title for the convention, as each day featured both rain and sunshine, typical weather for the “Space Needle City.”

Newly-elected GCSC President Judith Dill attended, along with Yvonne Morris, Donna Donnelly, Karen Prewitt, Gertrude Chandler, Becky Crow and former Presidents Pat Abercrombie, Maida Dantzler, Sarah Ann Parler, Betsy Steele, and Emily Stephens. In addition to attending business meetings and committee meetings, these GCSC delegates enjoyed making new acquaintances and renewing friendships, attending workshops and seminars, participating in sponsored tours and even a little sight-seeing! The Design Banquet featured the creativity of California-based Dutch Master Designer Rene van Rems, and the Awards Banquet was highlighted by the parade of state presidents as they received their awards from NGC President Shirley Nicolai. On the final day, Regional Luncheons provided an opportunity for GCSC representatives to enjoy the company of others attending from the South Atlantic Region; that evening the Installation Banquet featured the installation of the 2013-2015 Administration led by incoming NGC President Linda Nelson.

The 2014 NGC Convention will be held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, April 30-May 3, 2014. and preserving this remarkable piece of land and history.

CONVENTIONNGC

In MemoriamLavana Pitts Ariail

August 1, 1938 – January 2, 2013

Lavana was a member of Fairforest Garden Club of Spartanburg since1972. She served as President 3 different terms for a total of 5 years.

She was a National Accredited Flower Show Judge and a formerMember of the GCSC Board of Directors.

She will be greatly missed by her family, friends and fellow gardeners.


THE BLESSINGS OF SUMMER The sun is shining, the air is cool, the birds are singing; all the ingredients for a perfect day! Spring almost slipped past us, difficult to enjoy with flooding, cold, and sweater days not normal for the season. Beautiful blooms, breath-taking sunrises, sunsets, and a world of color welcomes summer, along with heat, sunscreen, picnics, swimming, travel and FUN!

Summer is a celebration. Our family vacation is happy, loud, and always includes a surprise crowning with wet seaweed (I scream) and a very tight bear hug from a grandson fresh from a full body roll in the sand- and again

my pleading ignored. I know it’s coming; I never know which day. It really

pleases my family that I loudly entertain people on the beach when it happens! “The family is a storehouse of the world’s richest treasures; the gold is golden laughter, the silver is in our parent’s hair, and the happiness we share outshines the sparkle of the biggest diamond.” It doesn’t matter if

you travel, work or just stay home, every summer has a story. Write your own chapter listing the blessings of each day. Go fishing with friends to enjoy the fellowship, not the catch. Charles Darwin stated, “If I had my life to live over again, I would have made a rule to read some poetry and listen to music at least once a week.” Shakespeare wrote, “One touch of nature makes the whole world kin”. Take private time for yourself to cry if you want to, life is not perfect. Summer offers time to learn from the past, evaluate the present, and plan for the future. Share secrets, take time for little things or keep a journal for your children and grandchildren. Most importantly, pray for those who face the future with no past to build on. There is one certainty: EACH DAY IS OUR GIFT FROM GOD.

My deepest appreciation for your friendship and patience and mygratitude for the opportunity to share your life.

GOD BLESS YOU. Mp

CHAPLAIN’S CORNERMildred Parker, Chaplain

A Message from the Chaplain

The South Carolina Gardener | Spring 2013 25

Wow, my time as Editor of The South

Carolina Gardener has come to its end. I bid

you farewell with this as my last issue. It has

been fun, busy, complex, satisfying, and not

so satisfying doing the job as Editor--in fact,

I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not

Editor material. I loved the contact with the

various clubs and members who submitted

articles and pictures for me to include in the

publications. Thank you so much.

I guess the “icing on the cake” Is winning

first place at the NGC Convention 2013 for

a publication, magazine/bulletin over 24

pages. Thank you GCSC members for having

such interesting projects and sending me

your articles to publish.Pat Troutman

Annual Submission Reminder

Deadline Issue

May 15 Summer

August 15 Fall

November 15 Winter

February 15 Spring

Editor’s Desk

Official Publication of, and Published by the Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc. from funds provided by ½ the dues for 5,600 members and advertising revenue. Subscription rates for others are $5 per year.

EDITORIAL STAFFManaging Editor Pat Troutman (803-283-4656) [email protected] Proofing Editor Brenda Page Sullivan [email protected] Reader Maida Dantzler [email protected] CoordinatorDepartment EditorsBook Review Minnie Mayberry [email protected] Environmental Concerns Karen Prewitt [email protected] Floral Design Photographer Trish Bender [email protected] Design Susan Epstein [email protected] Sue Kramer [email protected] Horticulture Jerry Weise [email protected] Chaplain’s Corner Mildred Parker [email protected]

Visit us on the web:www.gardenclubofsouthcarolina.org

GARDENERGARDENERThe South Carolina

The Off ic ia l Publ icat ion of The Garden Club of South Carol ina , Inc .

SEND ARTICLES TO

Kathy Hall3213 Pignatelli CrescentMt. Pleasant, SC 29466

[email protected]


2013 YOUTH SYMPOSIUMThe 2013 Youth Symposium was held at Camp Safari in Riverbanks Zoo & Garden on Saturday, April 6, 2013. Over 170 people attended the event which began at 10:30 with registration. The awards ceremony began at 11:15. Chairs of the Youth Symposium and the State Youth Contests, Yvonne Morris and Mary Alice Hall, hosted this event which was sponsored by GCSC, Inc. GCSC President Maida Dantzler attended and presented the award certificates to 39 of our 59 winners present. Each winner also received a yellow t-shirt with the GCSC logo and “Youth Symposium 2013” in white print. Rick Lint, the new Supervisor of Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests made remarks and presented each winner with a tote from the forest service. Gwen Beavans, an interpretive education specialist with the Region 8 Forest Service, arranged for Mr. Rick Lint and the Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl characters to appear and was also a guest. Everyone enjoyed meeting these characters which were the subject of two of our poster contests. District Youth Chairs, Susan Milford from West Piedmont, Carolyn King from East Lowcountry, and Carolyn Tolson from East Piedmont were present. Also in attendance were GCSC President–elect Judith Dill and Susan Bynum, Youth Symposium Chair for 2014 -2015.After the awards program, everyone enjoyed a catered (by Aramark) picnic lunch of grilled hamburgers and hotdogs with all the trimmings. The Youth Symposium concluded with everyone enjoying the zoo and garden.

YOUTH SYMPOSIUM

Winners in yellow shirts

GCSC President Maida Dantzler presents Presidential Service Awards to Youth Symposium Chairman Yvonne Morris and

Youth Contests Chairman Mary Alice Hall.

Woodsy Owl, Smokey Bear and Rick Lint, Forest Supervisor of Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests


EVENTSGCSC & Clubs 2013 Calendar

Date EventAug. 9 Finance Meeting (Time & Place TBA)

Aug. 15 Deadline for Fall Issue of SC Gardener

Sept. 1 Club/Council Yearbooks due to District Directors & GCSC Pres.

Sept. 5 GCSC Board Meeting, Forest Lake Club, Columbia

Sept. 24-29 NGC Fall Board Meeting, St. Louis, Missouri

Oct. 3-4Nationally Accredited Judges Club of SC Symposium 2013,Greenville, SC Embassy Suites

Nov. 1 Finance Meeting

Nov. Landscape Design School – Time & Place TBA

Nov. 15 ALL Youth Awards to District Youth Chairs

Nov. 15 Deadline for Winter Issue of SC Gardener

Nov. 15 High School Essay Contest Entries to Maida Dantzler, GCSC HS Essay Chair

Nov. 22 Youth Award Winners to Robin Rutledge, GCSC Youth Awards Chair

Please go to the GCSC website (www.gardenclubofsc.org) often to check on dates and times of events and deadlines coming up. For various reasons they do change and this is the first place the corrections are made. With the start of a new term looming there is sure to be added events and changes. Check the GCSC website daily or at least weekly.

NGC PresidentSHIRLEY S. NICOLAI12325 Hatton Point RoadFt. Washington, MD [email protected]

So. Atlantic Region DirectorMARY DIXON132 Moonlight PointSuffolk, VA [email protected]

GCSC PresidentMAIDA O. DANTZLER208 Shasta LaneSantee, SC [email protected]

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